1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
watch out for the choleric librarian at the reference desk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in angry
feeling or showing anger
I absolutely get choleric when a telemarketer calls during the dinner hour
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of choleric
In recent months and days, right up though the current authoritarian auto-da-fé that’s taking apart the Constitution, Winslow has become ever more choleric in his public comments.
—
Fred Schruers, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
Spiced with verbal humor, the necessary expositional scenes are expeditiously handled, reintroducing such Superman regulars as Jackie Cooper, the Daily Planet’s choleric editor, and Margot Kidder in her familiar role of Lois Lane, girl reporter.
—Arthur Knight, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025
Even outside politics, Mr. Jones’s choleric, wide-eyed style has influenced the way in which a new generation of conspiracy theorists looks for fame online.
—Kevin Roose, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2022
Mask agonists tend to be both crumbly and choleric, a bad combination and ample reason to seek comfort.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 17 Mar. 2022
He is replaced by a choleric, more professional West Indian, a lean black man with a faint, unplaceable accent.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021
Both have professed deep affection for the comic-book series about a globe-trotting boy reporter, his wirehaired fox terrier, and his choleric seafaring friend.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2010
Fred Schruers, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
Spiced with verbal humor, the necessary expositional scenes are expeditiously handled, reintroducing such Superman regulars as Jackie Cooper, the Daily Planet’s choleric editor, and Margot Kidder in her familiar role of Lois Lane, girl reporter.
—Arthur Knight, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025
Even outside politics, Mr. Jones’s choleric, wide-eyed style has influenced the way in which a new generation of conspiracy theorists looks for fame online.
—Kevin Roose, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2022
Mask agonists tend to be both crumbly and choleric, a bad combination and ample reason to seek comfort.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 17 Mar. 2022
He is replaced by a choleric, more professional West Indian, a lean black man with a faint, unplaceable accent.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021
Both have professed deep affection for the comic-book series about a globe-trotting boy reporter, his wirehaired fox terrier, and his choleric seafaring friend.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2010
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choleric
Adjective
-
What are the symptoms of irritable bowel disease?—
Lindy Segal,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps through feeling more irritable, more anxious, or wanting to isolate.—
Joy Harden Bradford,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bill, who was a Vietnam War veteran, tended to be angry and demanding at home.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
-
An angry crowd rioted outside an Australian Outback hospital where a man accused of killing a 5-year-old girl was treated for a vigilante beating.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
By contrast, Perry’s relationship with her fiery mother was defining.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Previously, Hungarians opposed to the government were indignant but apathetic.—
Isaac Stanley-Becker,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Upon his return, Tagovailoa gave a rather indignant response to those who questioned his NFL future.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The victim told police Walton became enraged over not receiving a tip, leading to an argument.—
Stepheny Price , Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2026
-
Rail workers press for tighter security Unions have been fighting to strengthen passenger rail workers' protections for nearly a decade, after several incidents like the 2017 shooting of a conductor by an enraged passenger at the train station in Naperville, Illinois.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Fray was also mad at himself for cramping, which forced him to be substituted out of Saturday’s loss in the 66th minute.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
3 May 2026
-
Their ferocious poetry resurrects them, inviting other mad seekers to take up their story.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Police said the two male juveniles became angered when the other three would not take them to buy marijuana.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Soon, the faces of the angered New York City citizens around her soften.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Thomas Paine, released from prison and woven back into French society, wrote a long, furious letter to George Washington.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The Toronto Blue Jays erased a one-run deficit with a furious eighth inning against the Twins’ bullpen on Saturday, scoring eight earned runs before recording an out to rally for an 11-4 victory at Target Field.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Choleric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choleric. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
